The environmental impacts of shipping in Malta

Abstract

The Mediterranean Sea is known as one of the crucial sea lanes for the transportation of goods and people, in and out of the region (UNEP, 2008). A growth in this industry means that there is a greater probability for further pressures on the marine environment due to: collisions, intentional and unintentional discharges of oil, air pollution and incidents with tankers, like Exxon Valdez, Erika, and Prestige in 1989, 1999, and 2001 respectively (UN, 2010). Moreover, discharge of various substances from daily activities are the foremost negative challenge for the aquatic environment. These include: operational oil spills, chemical cargo residues, anti-fouling paint, sewage, municipal waste, cleaning agents, air emissions, and non-indigenous species from the release of ballast water (UN, 2010). There are specific legislations that address these issues on an international level, namely: the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 1973/78), the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation 1990 (OPRC Convention), and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).